Control for gauge glasses



@ 39 M33 5;;1. v. CONTROL FCR GAUGE GLASSES Filed Uffa. 3.3, 3.927

Patented Feb. 3, 1931 CLARE-NOE 17. FUG'JA, GF .KANSS CTY,

lJQLBSd P'ENT l,

MENT CORPORATION, OF LANSAS CTY, MISSOUR, A GORPORATON OF MISSOURI CONTROL EUR GAUGE GLASSES Application filed October 13, 1927. Serial No. 225,983.

My invention relates to .gauge glasses, its object being to provide for the automatic closing of the gauge glass valves in case o' lire, and by means permitting the tree manual actuation of the valves.

ln accomplishing this object l have provided improved details of structure, the preferred -forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

1 is a perspective view or" a gauge glass installed on a vessel and having the valveactuating mechanism of my invention.

7Fig. 2 is a iront view of valve portions ot a gauge glass installation, showing the valve- 15 closing members in functioning position and a tusible linl: member removed from position.

Fig. 3 is a side view of the valve-closing device and the lower portion of the gauge 2o glass Structure.

Referring in detail to the drawings:

1 designates the wall ot a vessel in which the spaced nipples 2 and 3 of a gauge glass device l are positioned for disclosing the 25 liquid conditions in the vessel. The gauge glass device is of ordinary construction, comprising the columns or valve housings 5 and 6 representing the valve means ot admitting liquid from the vessel to the gauge glass, the 3o glass tube 7 to which the liquid is admitted tromthe vessel for gauging, and the valve stems 8 and 9, the rotation of which actuates the valves represented by 5 and 6 tor closing the housings and nipples to restrain the liquid from entrance into the glass column, or to admit liquid thereto. A drain valve 10 is provided in the bottom oi the gauge glass device for draining the liquid from the tube 7. Ordinarily, wheels are secured to the outer ends of the stems tor actuating the valves to close or open the port-s into the gauge.

I provide upper lever 11 and lower lever 12 in the place of valve-actuating wheels, each lever having oppositely extending arms 13 and 141, the levers being secured to the valve stems ot the upper and lower members of the gauge device.

l further provide chains 15 and 16 connecting respectively the arms or ends 13 and the ends 14 of the two levers whereby the .rotation of one lever will cause the other lever to be similarly actuated and whereby such transfer of motion may occur with either clockwise or anti-cloclrwise rotation ot' a lever. One or the other lever may, therefore, be manually operated to close or open the kvalves and both ends of the glass gauge will be similarly influenced by the manipulation of either lever.

Means for automaticallyclosing the ports into the glass gauge in case of tire, are further provided, comprising a weight lrhaving a loop or hook 18xin one end whereby it is connected with the arm 13 ot the lower lever 12 by a chain 19 so that when the weight is not otherwise supported, it will actuate the lever 12, and through it the lever 11, to close the valves and to hold the valves closed.

l provide as means for supporting the weight 1? in position to relievethe lever 12 and so permit the valves to remain open, a chain 20, to one end ot which a fusible link 21 is connected, the fusible link having a portion 22 engaged with the loop 18 in one end of the weight 1'1". In the other end of the chain is a. ring 23 that may be loosely engaged with a pin `24 on the opposite end of the weight 17 from that which receives t-he fusible link. The chain 2O is arranged over the lower valve stem 9 for supporting the weight while the ring 23 engages the pin 24, the members being so disposed that the ring will support the weight and not slip from the pin when the elements are positioned for open condition of the valves. The chain 19 that connects the. weight with the lever arm 13 of the lower lever 12 is of sufficient length so that the lever may be manually manipulated wit-hout disturbance ot the safety device .elements rlhe melting of the fusible linlr permits the link-supported end of the weight to drop so that the pin in the opposite end ot the weight will slip out of the ring and permit the weight to fall t-o the limit of theI chain and so to influence the arm 13 of the lever 12 downwardly.

ln operation, the parts having been provided as described, the chain 19 is connected to the arm 13 ot the lower lever 12, and the weight to'which chain20isattached by the Y fusible link, is lifted to permit the ring end of the chain 2O to be looped over the lower valve stem Q; the Weight is positioned with the pin 2e tl ereof engaged in the ring 23 of the li =k chain 20, said chain 2O being sube stantially centrally arranged on the valve stem so thf t the Weight is balanced on its tivo end snppoim, namely, the fusible link and the ring. Should a. lire occur and the fusible link be heated to approximately 1G50, the link or its fusible portion melts and the link end of tlie Weight falls, pulling the portions of the link apart; and 'the pin of the other end of the weight slips ont of the ring so that the entire weight falls to the limit of the supporting chain 19, The falling and suspended Weight, t-hen influencing the arm 13 of the lever l2 downvf'ard, also through the chains l5 and 16 similarly actuates the lever ll, so that the valves at each end of the gauge glass device are closed to prevent access to the glass column by liquid in the vessel. The valves are thus closed automatically in case of tire to prevent escape and Waste of liquid should the glass column be broken because of or during the. fire.

lVhile Waste of a fluid Which might escape through a gauge device in case of a column being broken, may be thus prevented, the invention is particularly designed for use on vessels containing highly volatile cleaning fluids, the escape of which through a broken gauge Would increase the hazard of fire.

lVhat I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. In combination With a gauge glass and valves at the ends of the glass having horizontal stems and vertically movable levers connected for actuating the stems in unison, a Weight having liexible connection with one of the levers, and means including a fusible element having opposite ends connected With the weight for normally supporting the weight With slack in said flexible connection.

2. In combination with a. gauge glass and valves at the ends of the glass having horizontal stems and vertically movable levers connected for actuating the stems in unison, a weight having flexible connection with one of the levers, and means including a fusible element having opposite ends connected with the Weight for normally supporting the weight independently of the levers With slack in said flexible connection.

3. In combination with the actuating levers of gauge glass valve stems, means connecting the levers, a. Weight connected vvith one lever and means for supporting the Weight comprising a chain, a fusible link connected with one end of the chain and connected with one end of the Weight, a ring in the other end of the chain, and a pin in the other end of the Weight, the chain being adapted for arrangement over the lower valve stem and engagement of its ring With CLARENCE V. FUQUA. 

